The talk of auto racing this past weekend was not auto racing.....it was the weather. Some tracks canceled because of snow flurries and sub-freezing temperatures. Only the hardiest fans turned out at their favorite local track to shiver through the night.

     This writer has been involved in motorsports for more than 35 years and I have trouble remembering colder weather when auto racing events were run. Back in the early sixties, maybe it was the fifties, I can remember going to a sprint car race at Reading Fairgrounds Speedway and waiting for snow to be removed from the track.

     At that age cold weather did not bother me. On Saturday night at Grandview Speedway, it was cold and it bothered me. Awards should have been given to those fans who sat in the grandstands to watch the racing action.

     Williams Grove Speedway, where management rarely cancels an event, the NO RACING sign went up early in the afternoon on Friday. There were snow flurries and sub-freezing temperatures were being forecast.

     This Friday they will try again. The limited (358) sprints will be in action along with 410 sprint cars. In fact that same doubleheader show will have an 8 p.m. start the next two Fridays. And on April 26th there will be the Gumout World of Outlaw Series in town to test their talents against the locals.

     PORT ROYAL SPEEDWAY cancelled their Saturday afternoon action due to cold weather and wind.

     This Saturday they will offer their final daylight show of the season. Racers like the daylight show because some choose to race at Port Royal in the afternoon and then hurry to Lincoln Speedway for the night time show. Now sprint car racers will have to make a choice, at least after this Saturday, as to which track they will call their home track.

     The Aumiller's Insurance Sprint Cars, Late Models and Stong's Auto Parts Pro Stocks will be feature in an April 13th show that starts at 1 p.m.

     Saturday night action will have the sprints, late models and pro stocks running at 7 p.m. The World of Outlaws Gumout Sprint Series, the feeder series for the Pennzoil World of Outlaws, will be in action at Port Royal on April 27. The Enduro cars will be part of the action for this show.

    SILVER SPRING SPEEDWAY had Russ Mitten debuting a new Outlaw chassis built by sprint car driver Shawn Keen. Actually they debuted the new car the previous week but had brake problems and were involved in an accident.

    Things turned out a lot better this week. Mitten was part of a wild four car battle for the lead and after starting ninth passed Ken Carberry with less than two laps to go to win the 25-lap Cindy Rowe Auto Glass sportsman feature. It was Mitten's sixth career Silver Spring win.

    Second spot in the super sportsman feature went to Frankie Herr followed by Ken Carberry, Smokey Snellbaker and Craig Morrow.

    The Auto Locator sponsored super sportsman with Steve Wilbur at the wheel finished sixth.

    Paul Morgan won the 20-lap feature for Street Stocks while Bob Scott Jr. was second.

    Super Sportsman and Late Models run at 6 p.m. this Saturday, April 13.

    AT SELINSGROVE SPEEDWAY a rookie was in victory lane for the second week in a row. Blaine Heimbach held off all challengers to win his first sprint car feature race. To do it, the young upstart had to hold off defending track champion and 12 time 2001 feature winner Chad Layton during several restarts.

    "Awesome, this is unbelievable," exclaimed a blonde headed Heimbach in sub-freezing temperatures as he jumped from this racer before it had stopped in victory lane.

    "I don't know what to say. I'm glad to get the first one out of the way. It's all I think about day and night and now I did it!"

    Chad Layton earned second followed by Eric Stambaugh, TJ Stutts and Nate Snyder. Last week's feature winner, Kyle Purks, was involved in an early race accident and finished 25th.

    Scott Haus won the late model feature race while Gerald Kratzer finished on top in the main event for pro stocks.

    The roadrunner feature, a new division of competition this season, was won by Rick Bixler. Just four entries for that event.

    Action returns to Selinsgrove, PA Speedway on Saturday, April 13, with sprints, late models, pro stocks and roadrunners being the attractions. Racing starts at 6 p.m.

     FRED RAHMER was back in victory lane at Lincoln Speedway on Saturday night. Rahmer, a multi time champion, grabbed the top sport when race leader Sean Michael slowed suddenly with engine trouble with 12 laps down. Rahmer took full advantage and scored his second super sprint feature victory of the season.

    "We got to the front first," Rahmer said, referring to his Joe Harz-owned No. 88H. "I've got to thank everybody at Miller Chevrolet and C&B Mushrooms, everybody involved with this car."

    Rahmer beat out Lance Dewease by just one-half second. Steve Siegel finished third followed by Mark Smith and early season winner Keith Kauffman.

    Gary Potts won the 20-lap Thundercar feature and it was Jeff Leiphart topping Scott Richwine in the Silver Spring limited late model feature race.

    The American Racing Drivers Club midgets appear on Saturday, April 13th at Lincoln Speedway along with the super sprints and thundercar racers. Racing starts at 7 p.m. This is a change from the early season 6 p.m. starting time.

    AT GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY on Saturday night Jeff Strunk, a former champion, won the 40-lap NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge Modified stock car feature race. The opening night show, sponsored by Trevdan Building Supply, had Terry Meitzler in front at the midway point with Jeff Strunk grabbing the top spot the next time around and going on to win with the Valvoline/Cummins W9 Modified. Second spot went to Kerry Kratz in an impressive late race charge. Terry Meitzler held on for third followed by defending champion Craig VonDohren and Rick Schaffer.

    The 20-lap feature for NASCAR Late Models went to Randy Stoudt in a strong effort with Dean Stoudt getting second. The two drivers are not related. Third was earned by young Sam Schlosberg.

    NASCAR Modifieds and Late Models return to Grandview Speedway on Saturday, April 13th at 6 p.m. At least 12 events make up the night of racing.

    WADE HENDRICKSON won the 25-lap Big Block Modified feature at Bridgeport, NJ Speedway on Saturday. The win kept second place Jimmy Horton from winning his 100th career feature victory at the 5/8th mile clay oval. Third spot went to Duane Howard followed by Carmine Infante and Mike Iles. Billy Harris won the Sportsman Feature, a 20-lapper, over Ron Roberts while Steve Strubble won the Bridgeport sprint feature.

    This Saturday, April 13, 5 p.m. the United Racing Club sprint cars will kick off their season with their first appearance of the season at Bridgeport, NJ Speedway. The Big Block Modifieds and Sportsman will also be part of the show.

    KYLE WEISS powered is Brickel's Racing Collectables 21K to his second career Modified win in the 25-lap season opening feature for Big Diamond Raceway's NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge on Sunday afternoon. Weiss finished just about one second ahead of Jeff Strunk. Defending track champion Keith Hoffman earned third followed by Terry Meitzler and Billy Pauch.

    Scott Singley got a his third career Big Diamond Sportsman feature win and Doug Hendricks drove wire-to-wire as the leader and earned the win in the 15-lap Roadrunner feature.

    Big Diamond Raceway continues the season with another Sunday afternoon program this week, April 14th, with a 2 p.m. starting time. The NASCAR Modifieds, Sportsman and Roadrunners will be featured. Sunday action will switch to a 4 p.m. start on April 21.

    AL UNSER SR., a four time Indianapolis 500 winner, will be the Grand Marshal for the April 21 Firestone Indy 225 at Nazareth Speedway.

    "When we asked Al to serve as Grand Marshal for the Indy Racing League event here later this month, he told us he won his first championship race at Nazareth in 1968," said Bridgestone/Firestone Motorsports Executive Director Al Speyer. "Al told us that win came on Firestone tires, so being Grand Marshal at a Firestone-sponsored event 24 years later at Nazareth is very special to him. His service as

Grand Marshal will add more excitement to an event that is already shaping up to be an amazing race."

    The weekend of racing action at Nazareth Speedway, April 19-21, will include the Indy Racing League, USAC Silver Crown cars (Sammy Swindell and Billy Pauch running in that event), USAC sprints and USAC midgets. Ticket information is available at 888.629.7223.

    Ernie Saxton can be reached at erniesaxton@compuserve.com.